Chapter Text
The sharp screech of heavy metal muffled comes out of the battered bruised radio, decades of dust lathered all over the small device, choking out the lyrics of the song, the red fox lady was listening to while cleaning her oiled up claws.
Behind the radio of sorts is a pinboard showing an array of sketches, blueprints and whatnot with some small pinned photos of a younger her with a blonde ponytail of sorts smiling next to a red fox with shades.
She turns to look down at the paperwork and notes below before humming as she approaches the ship. She stares at the ship, her fingertips gently brushing against the sleek steel of the R Wing all fastened up as the young blonde red fox couldn’t help the heaviness in her chest, hesitating as clear as day.
She was fine…she was…
The fox takes a few deep breaths brow furrowed as she collects herself, composes herself, hyping herself up almost as she takes in a deep breath before going down on the roller of sorts. She slides below as the ship is lowered only when she is face to face with it then does it all hit…
The bright blaring lights of the alarm ring out, the scenes fizzing glitching out as they fly in the dark depths of space.
"Fi…what’s going…on…!?” James’ distorted voice bellows.
"I…” Frazzled, Fi begins but before she knew it she was screaming as she came crashing down upon the planet below, met by the searing sands below…
The searing sands of the desert like terrain burn away at her lungs, tears in her terrified eyes as she screams, sobs but is only met by a whole wind of sand blasting into her mouth and ears, silencing her sobs, silencing her tears quickly drying up from the scorching wasteland she found herself deserted upon. A sharp searing sensation of her chest being crushed, the low ache of the R Wing digging into her flailing form, she was going to die…she was going to die.
She didn’t want to die, she didn’t…she…
"Why do I have to do these stupid team exercises!?" Enraged, a voice suddenly speaks out, swiftly snapping the mechanic out of it as the sharp slide of the door with the heavy steps of another younger looking fox enters the room.
"Please tell me you didn’t talk back to another instructor…” Tiredly, Fi under the ship sighs, rolling out from under the ship, revealing her loose baggy olive green jumpsuit.
"He expects me to do some stupid team basic training!!” The red fox fumes, sitting down on the lab steps huffing, toolbox next to him with a fox looking logo on it similar to the jacket he wears.
“Wench.” The mechanic grunts but…
"I know my way around an R wing like the back of my hand!” The younger fox is oblivious to the glare Fi gives him.
"I know you do.” Fi grunts, using her orange tail to grab the wench.
"Then tell them that aunt Fi, surely if they knew you trained me they would…!” The young boy earnestly exclaims turning to her.
"They wouldn’t listen either way Fox.” Aunt Fi gently tells Fox, rolling out from under the ship.
"Urgh…” Fox groans, craning his head back.
"Look Peppy just cares he doesn’t want anything to go wrong that’s all. We both know what can happen if things go wrong on a mission, pup.” Aunt Fi reminds Fox as she gets up, Fox unable not to spot the faint sheen of her steel foot.
"…Right…” Fox turns away pained.
"Come on let me show you something new I’ve been working on.” Fi offers smiling.
"Yes!” Fox grins, eager to see what his aunt’s cooked up.
"Fox…Fox come in. Are you synched to the training module?” An older hare calls out from the intercom of the ship he is piloting.
"Loud and Clear Peppy.” Fox in the Arwing sighs.
"Good. I realize you're no stranger to the Arwing...i’m sure Fiona taught you plenty. But it's important for team cohesion that we all run this exercise together. You know, when your dad was in charge, he would…” Peppy begins but…
"Ancient history, Peppy. This is my Star Fox and we’re doing things my way.” Fox curtly cuts Peppy off reminding him that as they go under another teamwork training exercise…
"Wow this flies just like the real…WHOA!” The toad in the simulation, riding a plane similar to Fox begins but soon screams when he flips in the air.
"Look out!” The toad warns, his vehicle nudging into another, nicking its wing just as another R Wing flies past.
"Too slow Fox! Maybe next time!” The falcon riding said vehicle taunts Fox as it flies on ahead when before the falcon knew it glitches began appearing on screen taking the crew aback.
"Hey! Who pulled the plug? Things were getting good!” Falcon with his headset on demands as in the real world Slippy takes off his helmet.
"Sure. You almost managed to keep up with me…” Fox remarks removing his headset.
"Ha! Our self proclaimed leader thinks he’s really funny…” Falco remarks before tossing his headset aside, walking off.
"Guess we’ll have to wait for the rematch.” Slippy smiles, removing his head set seated around the table in a common room of sorts on the Star Fleet.
"You’re all missing the point of the exercise entirely!” Harshly, Hare berates the team.
"It’s fine Peppy. You worry too much.” Fox tells the Hare.
"Somebody has to! Or didn't you hear the alert? ROB's got the commanding officer of the Corneria Defense Force on hold!” Peppy brings up.
"You don't say? OI' General Pepper himself, hailing our humble band of mercenaries? This oughta be good. Let's see what he has to say for himself…” Fox approaches the communication console.
"Incoming hail from General Pepper. Priority-one communication. Patching him through now.” Rob announces as a hologram of the dog general Pepper comes through.
"We need your help, Star Fox.” General Pepper admits to Fox.
"Hey there, General. You seem a little on edge.” Fox smirks clearly amused.
"Andross's invasion has found its way to our doorstep. His forces are laying siege to Corneria as we speak! The Corneria Defense Force is spread too thin. I need your team to get down there and launch a counteroffensive!” General Pepper asks of Fox and co.
"That's no small ask, General. But as it happens, my team's available to deploy immediately...for a price.” Fox smirks smugly.
"Yes, yes Fiona warned me as much. Andross's forces have already occupied numerous worlds throughout the system. If they take Corneria, then all hope is lost. Save Corneria...liberate the Lylat System. and you can name your price!” The general allows.
"You've got yourself a deal. It's a pleasure doing business with you, General.” Fox smirks as the transmission of the general flickers out.
"Prep the Arwings. We've got a job to do, Star Fox! We're gonna take the system back
from Andross...one planet at a time.” Fox tells his team as they head out.
"It's as bad as it looks, Star Fox. We need your help!” General Pepper pleads through the intercom as the star fleet arrive in the midst of the battleground, ships firing willy nilly at one another through the dark depths of space.
"Come on, let's give our boys some support!” Fox in his R Wing leads the charge when…
"Hey Fox, you made it!” A familiar voice calls out from the intercom.
"Bill? Is that you? It's been a while.” Fox recognises his old classmate.
"We've got a fleet to save if you're interested.” Bill offers.
"Can you two save the cute banter for after we finish the job?” Falco huffs.
"Yeah, let's get to work!” Slippy smiles.
"You guy again?! You beat us on land, but we're unbeatable in space!” Caiman from his ship sneers as just then…
"Well, if it isn't the usual goody-goodies! Come to muck things up for us?” A certain R Wing catches the group’s eye.
"Wait a second-Pigma?! What are you doing here?” Fox says shocked.
"I'm here for a job, of course! And looks like I get to have a little fun. Too bad Dad's not here to see ya fail. Say how’s Fiona? Still moping away in that sad shack of a hospital?” Pigma sneers.
"You…! How dare-” Enraged, Peppy begins when…
"Hold up! We've got incoming!” Falco cuts in.
"Are you going to hog all the fun?” A rust bucket of a ship soon joins the ranks.
"Katt? What are YOU doing here?” Falco does a double take.
"I wanted to meet your new gang!” Katt answers.
"This is Star Fox. State your purpose!” Fox demands from Kat.
"Just checking in. So you're friends with Falco? Fancy that!” Katt smiles.
"Aren't you going to introduce us Falco?" Slippy asks.
"Katt Star Fox. Star Fox. Katt. Happy now?" Falco huffs as just then...
"Aaah! Hey!” Katt cries when hit.
"Katt! Fox, eyes up top!" Falco alarmed spots the incoming fleet of R Wings.
"STAR WOLF!?" Peppy says shocked.
"Who!?” Fox turns to scowl.
"I heard a certain fox was back in space, whose this cub?” The leader of the group, Star Wolf scowls at Fox.
"Cub!?” Fox insulted glares at Starwolf.
"And here I thought I would actually face a challenge today…” Star Wolf just tuts.
"I can't tell who's who out here! Ah!” Slippy gasps when suddenly he is hit.
"Anyone who defies Andross has to answer to me!" Andrew proudly proclaims, the source of said hit.
"There's no end to these guys!” Falco curses narrowly avoiding a hit from another of Star Wolf’s group.
"Andross wishes to see you eliminated.” Leon simply states, unaware of Fox flipping around in the air coming up to Leon from behind to help Falco.
"That technique so she taught you…” Wolf hums as to Fox’s surprise, Wolf copies the technique flawlessly.
"She…?” Fox frowns.
"You think you're so clever!? Just because you can attempt a few of her moves cackhandedly doesn’t mean you have a chance against me! I have you in my sights! You have no escape! Playtime’s over!” Wolf swears it on Fox’s tail.
"You REALLY think you can shoot me down?!" Leon notices Fox and glares.
"I can almost smell the reward money!" Pigma grins giddily.
"Husky unit, provide backup!
"Bulldog Unit, cover us!
"Cannon ready! Countin' down! Three... Two... One!” The countdown begins when…
"We're readying our main cannon. Get out of the line of fire!” General Pepper’s voice cuts in through the intercom to warn Fox and co.
"So tell me is Fi mulling it over while licking her wounds?” Wolf asks of Fox.
"Aunt Fi?” Fox frowns but…
"Fire!” General Pepper makes his command known as before the others knew it…
"My beautiful reward!" Pigma meanwhile cries out when shot down.
"THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!!” Leon too.
"Help, Uncle Andross!!" Andrew cries out when taken down.
"Dammit…” Wolf curses at his fallen teammates.
"He’s fast….! Fox couldn’t help the bead of sweat from falling.
"This isn’t over Star Fox!” Wolf swears it taking off.
"All units, report!" Fox orders.
"Fox, you're awesome!" Slippy smiles.
"You've done your father proud, Fox!" Peppy praises Fox.
"Classic Katt. Shows up, makes a mess and disappears…” Falco huffs.
"Star Wolf…how did that guy know aunt Fi!?” Fox couldn’t help but wonder as they head back to base.